Breeders' Cup: These are Bob Baffert's top 3 prospects

Bob Baffert still knows how to capture the biggest races. The two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer will head into the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Nov. 3 and 4 with a legitimate chance to win the Classic if his speedy entry can secure an uncontested lead. He also has a chance in the Juvenile with two talented 2-year-olds pointing there.

Here are Baffert’s three best Breeders’ Cup prospects.

1. Arabian Knight

Race: Classic

Like many Baffert-trained stars before him, Arabian Knight excels when he gets to secure an uncontested lead through reasonable fractions.

Arabian Knight made use of those pacesetting tactics to capture the Southwest Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn earlier this year on the Kentucky Derby trail. In that race, Arabian Knight always led by at least one length or more, and then he drew off in the stretch to win by 5 1/2 lengths in a great effort considering he only made his second career start.

More recently, Arabian Knight took them all the way in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Through a lively half-mile in 46.60 seconds and six furlongs in 1:11.42, Arabian Knight led the field by one length, although he needed work hard to maintain the lead given that fast half-mile for the distance.

Despite the swift pace, Arabian Knight turned back a challenge from Slow Down Andy on the far turn and held on when Geaux Rocket Ride took one last shot at him near the wire. Arabian Knight prevailed by a neck over Geaux Rocket Ride, with Slow Down Andy back in third by 1 1/2 lengths.

Arabian Knight’s Pacific Classic win gives him a big score against older horses, which the expected Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Arcangelo lacks. Nevertheless, Arabian Knight will face a stiff challenge from Arcangelo once the real running begins on the far turn.

But as long as Arabian Knight can secure the lead, he can get brave up front and win the Classic for Baffert.   

2. Muth

Race: Juvenile       

If nothing else, Muth has been the most durable 2-year-old in Baffert’s barn. He finds himself as the leading contender in the stable for the Juvenile, despite possibly not being the most talented of Baffert’s colts. 

With that said, the son of Good Magic cost $2 million and began his career with a splash when he broke his maiden at Santa Anita in June by 8 3/4 lengths. Afterward, Muth lost the Best Pal Stakes (G3) at Del Mar to his stablemate Prince of Monaco by a clear margin after initially putting up a fight. But then Muth came back strong on Oct. 7 in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita with a 3 3/4-length win.

Muth’s stablemate Wine Me Up ran second in the American Pharoah, after breaking his maiden on Sept. 2 at Del Mar. Wine Me Up has talent, although he came into the race lacking any stakes experience. As for the third-place Be You, he previously ran fourth in the Hopeful Stakes (G1).

In all likelihood, Muth beat a decent field. But he will need to take another step for Baffert in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, especially with Locked in the field. In addition, if his own stablemate Prince of Monaco turns in his best performance, Muth might find him hard to hold off.

3. Prince of Monaco

Race: Juvenile

The third spot had to go to either Prince of Monaco or Adare Manor. Although the latter runner brings speed to the Distaff, she probably does not own the same chance to win because of the Distaff pace scenario. 

Prince of Monaco makes the third spot on this list because of the talent shown when he beat Muth in the Best Pal at Del Mar. In that six-furlong race, Prince of Monaco won by 4 1/4 lengths after surging clear near the wire.

All the margins were spaced out, as Muth had almost the same margin on Raging Torrent in third, while Raging Torrent finished 15 1/4 lengths ahead of Tranche in fourth, and Tranche finished 16 1/2 lengths ahead of Who Is Pavel.

But in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 10, Prince of Monaco suddenly seemed average when he barely beat his weak stablemate Mirahmadi by 3/4 of a length. Previously, Mirahmadi finished fourth in two straight maiden races in a row at Del Mar. He entered the Futurity as an 0-for-3 maiden.

So Prince of Monaco enters the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as a difficult runner to handicap. But the raw talent is obviously there because he ran great when he beat his stablemate Muth in the Best Pal.

Maybe he was a bit sore in the Del Mar Futurity and needed time to recover. If Prince of Monaco feels good enough, he can run great again in the Juvenile.